The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

111 – Reunion (03)

112.

Surely, a person of the status of a head of the Lyle Merchant Guild would have a pile of readily available cash.

After that incident, Kalen followed Flaber Lyle and discovered the money that had been set aside.

He wasn’t curious about how the Plache family and the Lyle Merchant Guild would change.

That was their problem to handle, Kalen’s only concern was the carriage fare to leave the family.

That was what he’d followed them for, to get the money.

Kalen was almost certain Flavore had stashed away money, but even if he hadn’t, he was planning to get a fancy, comfortable carriage from the Lyle Trading Company or the Plache family.

But, as expected, the amount of money found in Flavore Lyle’s room was beyond imagination.

A blinding pile of gold coins.

Kalen, of course, demanded it, and Flavore Lyle, not wanting to lose even that, hesitated.

“After trying so hard to kick me out, you can’t even give me carriage fare when I’m actually leaving?”

“…This could buy dozens of carriages… sigh… fine… take it.”

In the end, he had no choice but to hand it over to Kalen without much resistance.

The only person left to protect Flavore was a mercenary who was about to have his contract terminated.

The Manudan mercenary captain had regained his senses, but even if all his comrades jumped in, they wouldn’t be enough to subdue the young monster they couldn’t handle.

Mercenaries need to be keenly aware of the atmosphere on the battlefield.

As the one leading such mercenaries, getting on the wrong side of an old man about to break contract was something he could easily bear.

No, it wasn’t just Manudan.

All the mercenaries had followed them, and they were all watching Kalen’s every move.

To be intimidated by a boy so much younger than them was quite embarrassing.

But when the difference was so vast, to the point of forgetting shame, it became a natural reaction.

Flavore had all his available cash stripped away by Kalen.

Kalen, carelessly hefting the pile of gold coins, left the room without even looking back.

“Haa…”

Flavore didn’t even have the energy to curse at his back.

He simply didn’t have that much strength.

And at the same time, a question arose.

He’s young.

That boy looked so young that he couldn’t have been older.

He might even be younger than Laris, who had brought him here.

Such skill at such a young age was hard to believe.

If that were true, Flavore should have known about him.

The Trading Company needs to be sensitive to trends.

If someone with such ability existed, the social circles of the empire would undoubtedly revolve around the boy.

His looks were also outstanding; there would be no better match for a noblewoman’s hand in marriage.

He had once meticulously investigated all the young nobles in society when he was preparing to send the Laris sisters out.

It hasn’t been that long, so forgetting is out of the question.

Then that means the current Empire is unaware of the boy.

No matter how big the Empire is, they can’t know everyone outside of high society.

In other words, they wouldn’t know a commoner, not a noble.

And my belief that things will revolve around this boy remains unchanged.

The exceptional are bound to stand out.

Especially a boy using magic for combat in a world like this.

It’s only a matter of time before the Empire takes notice.

What end that change will lead to, even Flavier himself doesn’t know.

He can sketch a rough outline, but it’s not something he can easily confirm.

Who in the world would think that the five great families and the two major merchant guilds would fall because of a single boy?

The step-grandfather who sent that young girl to her death, his end,

that too was something Flavier could not have predicted.

*

“Kalen… what in the…”

“…”

After everything was over.

Laris and Belvit, who had left the mansion earlier, spotted Kalen just as he was exiting.

Laris smiled and was about to approach Kalen when a massive sack on Kalen’s back caught her eye.

Kalen noticed Laris and Belvit’s gaze and glared at the sack, which was full of gold coins.

Of course, Flavier wasn’t someone to feel sorry for, but,

it was hard to say “I took it all because there was still money lying around.”

Kalen blinked a few times and answered in a slightly smaller voice,

“Spoils… of war.”

“Spoils… of war?”

“Yes. Well… more importantly, let’s get going. Flavier provided a carriage.”

That, too, was something that hadn’t been agreed upon.

But Kalen needed a distraction to change the subject.

“…Kalen.”

Just as Kalen was about to rush toward the carriage, Laris, contrary to his expectations, approached hesitantly.

“But… you know…”

“Yes.”

“That…”

She keeps hesitating after coming so close, it makes me wonder if she has something to say.

Kallen gave Laris the space to speak slowly, and Laris, appreciating his consideration, spoke carefully.

“Before I leave… there’s one thing I want to do.”

Leaving the family, especially for a former daughter of the Flache household, has a huge meaning.

Laris doesn’t regret this form of her final farewell at all, but that doesn’t change the facts.

She probably won’t be able to return here.

At least, not to the territory ruled by Flache.

A young girl of Flache.

The one who had lost all of her proud family, and now the self-acknowledged Laris, has only one lingering attachment.

A small theater at the edge of the streets ruled by Flache.

Too inadequate for first-class or even well-known second-class plays, it’s a theater that hosts low-quality second or third-rate ones.

Laris wanted to visit it one last time before she left.

It’s good to read the source novels for third-rate plays, but it’s even more enjoyable to watch them performed live.

“Will you… come with me?”

“…”

Considering what she’s just done to the Flache family, it’s almost impossible.

It’s like beating up your owner and then going into the vineyard they manage and eating all the grapes.

In a way… this is another one of Laris’s unreasonable demands.

But.

Laris hesitated, but was looking straight into Kallen’s eyes.

Her gaze is filled with trust, a clear sign that she has a strong belief that he’ll even agree to her unreasonable request.

She’s not asking if it’s possible.

It’s a question full of expectation, asking if he will come with her.

Kallen hesitated, then looked back at Velvit.

It was Velvit who told Laris about third-rate plays.

Velvit also likes third-rate plays.

Latia Falls and third-rate plays.

That became one of the things Kallen couldn’t forget.

Then, leaning his head back slightly, he became conscious of the pouch of gold.

It wasn’t intentional, but somehow he had more than enough money to see the play.

Kallen paused like that, then nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“…Yeah. Thank you.”

Laris gave a soft smile, tilting her head slightly.

It was a huge change, incomparable to when Kallen had first met Laris.

Her murky gray eyes held an unreadable, difficult expression.

But the girl who had just smiled, with her very bright gray eyes curving beautifully.

She looked absolutely delighted.

Laris turned her body and went to Velvit, linking arms with her.

Then, turning just her head towards Kallen, she smiled with her eyes.

“Shall we go, my knight protector?”

A little while ago.

When Laris heard Kallen’s answer.

The words that scattered in a very small voice, were something Kallen hadn’t heard.

*

It was difficult to keep lugging around the pouch of gold, so Kallen put it in the carriage they would ride in.

It was unlikely anyone from the Platze family would take the Lyle Merchant Company’s carriage, especially one with a pouch of gold inside.

But just to be sure, he made an ice spear and stood it in front of the carriage.

And so, taking only a single gold coin for the price of seeing the play.

Kallen, Laris, and Velvit arrived at the theater at the end of the street.

“There are more people than I thought.”

“Yeah. There are a lot of people walking around in this area.”

It wasn’t just for that reason.

First-rate plays are often for the nobility.

Plays that feature head-aching philosophical stories or acting with high-level conversations.

Nobles are the sort that want to raise their own value.

Plays tailored to their tastes are naturally expensive, and commoners often can’t spend that much money on leisure.

That’s why, if you’re only counting theater attendance, the theaters showing low-tier or third-rate plays are usually more packed.

Simple, predictable stories.

Those fairy tales with preordained happy endings, they’re too childish for dignified conversation.

“Can we just sit anywhere?”

“Yeah. They count the people coming in, so it’s fine to sit anywhere.”

Hearing Laris’s answer, Kallen looked around and found three seats in a row.

Stuck to the right wall, it seemed like enough space for three to watch the play.

“Let’s go over there.”

“Okay, I got it.”

Kallen pointed towards it.

Laris and Velvet followed his gaze and started moving.

As they approached the seats, they felt eyes on them.

A bearing and appearance that didn’t fit the place. Dignity.

Though from slave origins, the presence of women who’d been part of noble families for a long time stood out in this ordinary theater.

Kallen quietly stared at it for a moment before speaking to Laris and Velvet.

“You should go in first.”

“Uh…?”

“Quickly.”

Pushed by Kallen, Velvet went in first, and Laris sat next to her.

The two of them, mother and daughter, who had been planning to sit just anywhere, were confused at first, but quickly understood his intention.

Two seats touching the wall.

One seat blocked them off, as if protecting them.

When Kallen sat there, it felt like being shielded.

The dark theater.

Only the wall and Kallen beside them were visible.

A consideration that allowed them to focus on the play without worrying about their surroundings.

Laris blinked and looked at Kallen sitting next to her.

“…”

Thump, thump.

“Kalen.”

“Yes, Aga…”

The moment Kalen was about to answer,

*Hooosh*, Laris leaned in, her face close, and whispered near Kalen’s ear.

A very small, trembling voice, just for Kalen to hear.

“I like you.”

“…”

Right after, the theater went completely dark.

Kalen turned his head to ask what she meant, but because of that, he couldn’t see Laris’s expression.

And in that darkness,

bright, ashen eyes gently curved.

“The play. I said I like the play.”

“…”

Laris turned her head toward the stage.